Football Class of 2011 Introduced

Jul 30, 2007

July 30, 2007

The Yale Football Class of 2011 was introduced briefly last spring. The surveys have been collected and the incoming class of recruited student-athletes is now ready for a more formal introduction as the pre-season camp is just three weeks away. The following are profiles of each.

At St. Rita of Cascia High School: Four-year member of football team who played three with varsity... Over 2,000 yards total offense in 2006... Completed nine of 14 passes for 225 yards and rushed for 120 in a state semifinal win over Providence Catholic... Won Chicago Catholic League, considered among best in the country... IHSA Class 7A State champs with 13-1 record... Ranked No. 33 in country by maxpreps.com... Competed in JV baseball and wrestling his freshman and sophomore years... Gold Honor Roll... Who's Who Among American High School Students... National Honor Society... National Society of High School Scholars.

Personal: Peter Balsam, born Feb. 25, 1989, is the son of Martin and Loretta Balsam... Economics major... Father wrestled at Loras College and sister, Caitlin, played volleyball at Eastern Illinois... Former teammate (grammar school) and rival (high school) of Yale RB Jordan Farrell.

At Christian Brothers College High School: First-team all-conference football and baseball player... Captained the football team while earning three varsity letters... 2006 first-team all-conference safety; earned same honor as kicker in 2005 and was second-team as kicker in 2004... Honorable mention all-metro kicker in 2005... Career-long FG was 45 yards... 2006 league and district champs and state finalists... 2004 district and state quarterfinalists... Career .387 varsity batting average as outfielder... 2007 first-team all-conference... 2006 second-team all-conference... 2007 district champions... National Honor Society... First honors all four years... De La Salle Scholarship...

Personal: Alexander Michael Barnes, born Jan. 22, 1989, is the son of Michael and Mary Ann Barnes... Intersested in business and law.

At St. Thomas Aquinas High School: Three-year varsity letterman who was captain of the offensive line... Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel Honorable Mention All-County... Orange Bowl Scholar-Athlete Award handed out at state championship game... Bright Futures Scholarship... AP Scholar... National Merit semifinalist... Team was three-time state runner-up, sectional champion, regional champion and district winners... Team ranked as high as No. 10 by USA Today his junior year... Sports Illustrated rated them third best sports program in nation... Played in controversial 2 OT loss to Lakeland in 2006 state championship game... Fifteen teammates are now playing Division I football.

Personal: Nathaniel Blair, born May 23, 1988, is the son of Brian and Nancy Blair... Interested in economics and law.

At St. Ignatius High School: Four-year letterman in football... 2006 first-team all-conference... 2006 St. Ignatius Lineman of the Year... Team won conference and state titles... National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete... Eagle Scout.

Personal: Christopher Brendan Blohm, born May 15, 1989, is the son of Ken and Helen Blohm... Interested in political science... Sister rows at Georgetown.

At Belen Jesuit Prep School: Played four years on football team... QB, HB, WR and CB... All-Dade County honorable mention in 2006 despite being sidelined by injury for all but two games... Team won 2006 district title.

Personal: Givanni Christodoulou, born Sept. 15, 1988, is the son of Michael and Raysa Christodoulou, two first-generation immigrants... Interested in economics and banking.

At Bloomington High School South: Earned three varsity letters in three sports while captaining each... Set school career and season (60) records for catches... IHFCA All-State... Two-time all-conference... Team's Most Outstanding Receiver Award... High School Heisman Finalist... Captain's Award... National Football Foundation Scholar... School's career field goal percentage leader in basketball... All-area selection and team MVP... Indiana All-Star Top 40... East-West All-Star Team... Hall of Fame Classic All-Tournament Team... Academic all-state... Basketball team had two final four appearances... Two-time winner of captain's award and team MVP in baseball... Hoosier Diamond All-Star Game MVP... Led team in all offensive categories... Garnered numerous academic honors not associated with sports including National Honor Society.

Personal: Jordan Lee Forney, born April 15, 2007, is the son of Joe and Jennifer Forney... Comes from a family of athletes... Both parents played college basketball and both grandfathers were varsity athletes at Indiana University... Twin sister was also a three-sport high school athlete who earned more varsity letters than he did.

At Saint Stephen's and Saint Agnes School: Captained and earned three letters in football as both DE and TE... Earned all-state and all-conference honors... Recipient of the Saint Football Award... Lettered two years as attacker for lacrosse team... National Football Foundation Scholarship recipient... Cum Laude... French Honors Society.

Personal: Eric Gonzague Gresham, born Feb. 20, 1989, is the son of William and Veronique Gresham and the brother of Yale football player Louis Gresham '08... Economics major.

At State College Area High School: Three-sport star who was all-league in two... Established school records for season TDs (29) and yards (2,129)... Football all-state and first-team All-Mid-Penn Conference... Harrisburg Patriot News Platinum 33 selection for Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Top 50... Team MVP... Selected for East-West All-Star Game... National Football Foundation Scholarship... Karen Bruno Ganter Award for dedication... Team won district and lost in 2006 state semifinals... First-team all-league basketball pick who was selected for Altoona Mirror All-Star Game... First-team All-Mountain Athletic Conference... First-team Central Penn League... Complete-game victory on the mound in district VI championship.

Personal: Brook R. Hart, born April 10, 1989, is the son of Tom and Cindy Hart and the brother of current Yale player Brady Hart '09... Pitched against (2-0 loss) infamous Danny Almonte (Bronx) in a nationally televised 2001 Little League Mid-Atlantic Championship Game.

At Dublin Coffman High School: Three-time letterman and captain of football team... Two-time all-district, all-area and all-conference... Columbus Dispatch "Super 25" football team... Earned two letters and captained wrestling team while going 25-6 as a senior heavyweight... Second-team all-conference in wrestling... Named top scholar-athlete for entire conference in both sports... Wendy's High School Heisman nominee... Ernie Godfry Scholarship... City Schools Employee Scholarship... Kevin E. Cleveland Memorial Scholarship.

Personal: Jake Koury, born May 18, 1989, is the son of Norman and Connie Koury... Father played football at Ohio University and brother, Clark Koury, plays now at Columbia... Economics and political science major interested in investment banking and work as a sports agent.

At Lafayette High School: Captained football team and was 2006 all-conference pick... Lettered two seasons as defensive end... Team was 2005 district champions and made final eight in the state... Also played first base for the baseball team... AP Scholar with Distinction... National Society of High School Scholars... National Honor Society... Tyco Healthcare National Merit Scholarship.

Personal: Matthew Messer, born May 22, 1989, is the son of Jeff and Tess Messer... Father played varsity baseball at Miami (Ohio)... Oldest of five brothers who are all athletes.

At Whiteland Community High School: Three-sport standout and two-sport captain... First-team all-state and all-conference on gridiron... Honorable mention all-state as a junior... Owns the school season and career passing records and the mark for season TD passes... Football team was sectional champs... Basketball team defensive player of the year... Baseball team defensive player of the year... Baseball team was sectional and regional champs... Academic all-star regional winner.

Personal: Adam Jacob Money, born Feb. 8, 1989, is the son of Lee and Cindy Money... Interested in biology and orthopedic surgery.

At Cardinal Newman High School: Two-time varsity letterman in football and track & field... 2006 first-team all-league in football... Also First-Team All-Empire as offensive tackle... 2005 honorable mention all-league... Gridiron squad was 2006 state runner-up, Northern California champs and sectional winner... His 2005 team was league and sectional champs... Threw shot (PR of 47'8") and discus... Earned scholar-athlete honors from the school and was on the principal's list from 2003 to 2007.

Personal: Bryan Jay Monson, born May 29, 1989, is the son of Jay Monson and Kim Hansen... Interested in economics as a major.

At Choptican High School: Earned 10 varsity letters between football, track & field and wrestling... 2006 all-conference offensive and defensive line and team defensive MVP... Washington Post All-Extra Team 2006 offensive line... Blocked for two 1,000-yard runners... 2007 all-conference in shot and Washington Post All-Extra Team... The Enterprise Track 2007 Athlete of the Year... Shot P.R. is just under 51 feet... Discus P.R. of 129-feet, seven inches... 2007 all-conference wrestler who finished second in state... All-conference academic awards... 4.0 GPA all four years.

Personal: Patrick Brian Moran, born June 28, 1989, is the son of James and Mary Moran... Father, who played football at Holy Cross, is a congressman in the 8th district of Virginia... Grandfather played at Holy Cross and for the NFL Boston Redskins... Interested in architecture and environmental issues.

At Gilman School: Captain and three-year starter at TB and DB... Super 22 Best Players in Maryland... Baltimore Examiner All-Metro first-team... Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association All-League (A Division)... Baltimore Touchdown Club All-Star... Honorable mention all-state... Rushed for 1,031 yards on 152 carries (6.8 avg) with 10 TDs in 2006... Led league in rushing and scoring... Made three interceptions and recovered three fumbles... Played on three league championship teams... 2005 squad ranked No. 12 in USA Today national poll.

Personal: John Pagliaro, born June 19, 1989, is the son of John Pagliaro `78 and Ellen Turley Pagliaro. Father was two-time Ivy League football MVP and All-American RB who grew up a few miles from Yale Bowl... Has worked with Habitat for Humanity... Interested in business and investment banking.

At Dobyns-Bennett High School: Lettered three times in two different sports... Two-time Big East All-Conference linebacker... All-Northeast Tennessee Defensive Player of the Year... Captain's Award senior season... Recorded 236 tackles in three varsity campaigns... J. Mark Bowery Award for Offensive and Defensive play... Chad Eads - Remax/WKIN Offensive and Defensive Award... Big Bang Award... Johnson City Press All-Tough Guy... Played on three conference champs... Made it to one state quarterfinal... Big East Conference first place in shot... National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete... Tennessee State Scholar Award... National Honor Society... Eagle Scout... QB Club Football Scholarship.

Personal: Andrew Michael Pappas, born July 19, 1988, is the son of Michael and Donna Pappas... Interested in economics.

At Langley High School: Earned two varsity letters in football and two in basketball... 2006 second-team all-district offensive lineman... Played center for the basketball squad... Garnered scholar-athlete recognition all four years in football and basketball.

Personal: John Andreas Pedersen, born March 16, 1989, is the son of Mikal and Nancy Pedersen... Interested in economics and getting an MBA.

At Suffern High School: Three-sport captain who earned seven varsity letters... 2006 All-county, all-section, all-league and team MVP... Played QB and DB... Picked off two passes in two different games at safety... Rushed for 639 yards and passed for 946 with 12 TDs... Three-year starter and 2007 all-league pick in baseball... League champs and section runner-ups... All-county, all-section and Best Newcomer to the Sport Award in track his junior year... Ran 200, 300 and 400-meter sprints and relays... Track team won section... English, Math, Social Studies and Spanish National Honor Societies... Top five percent of class... Journal News Scholar-Athlete of Week... New York State Scholar Football Team... Diamond Nine Section Baseball Scholar-Athlete Team... Masonic Lodge F&M Geometry Scholarship... Finalist in Cablevision Athlete Recognition Scholarship Competition.

Personal: Jason Alexander Pelletier, born June 16, 1989, is the son of Linda and Stephen Pelletier... Political science major.

At Chaparral High School: Earned two varsity letters playing LB and DT... Racked up 104 tackles and a TD senior year... Made two (Arizona Republic, AFCA) different all-state teams... Two-time first-team All-Desert Sky Defense... Invited to Arizona All-Star Game... Two-time defensive player of the week by Scottsdale QB Club... Football team went 22-5 over last two seasons and won a pair of regional titles... National Merit Commended Scholar... Top seven percent of class... National Football Foundation Scholarship.

Personal: Matthew Clifton Phelan, born Nov. 16, 1988, is the son of Michael and Sally Phelan... Economics major.

At Eisenhower High School: Three-year starter and two-year football starter... All-county and all-conference... Eastern Star All-Star Game... Team MVP and most valuable defensive back... All-county and all-conference baseball player for three years... Also earned letter playing basketball... Who's Who Among American High School Students... Illinois Power/Decatur Rotary Scholar-Athlete Award... Class valedictorian... Illinois State Scholar... Big 12 Scholar-Athlete... Eisenhower Senior Scholar-Athlete... US Army Reserve Scholar-Athlete Award.

Personal: Jesse Reising, born Aug. 30, 1989, is the son of Robyn and Steve Reising... Interested in economics and becoming a lawyer.

At The Brunswick School: Earned seven varsity letters between football and wrestling... All-New England and All-Fairchester Athletic Association as DL... Team lineman of the year in 2006... 2005 team rookie of the year... Football team went 39-1 and won three New England titles... Captain and two-time All-American wrestler and state champion... All-New England wrestling team... Earned honor roll status in school.

Personal: Nicholas Simmons, born May 1, 1989, is the son of Steven and Eileen Simmons... Three sisters are Ivy athletes: Sara (Cornell '05) and Caroline (Harvard '08) played lacrosse; Julia (Brown '11) rows... Grandfather played football at Duke... Interned for congressman Chris Shays... Interested in government and a political science major.

At West Orange High School: Lettered in football, basketball and baseball... Captained football team and played both TE and DE... Best season was 25 catches for 300 yards in 2006... All-conference, all-area and all-county senior year on gridiron... Football team went 8-3 in 2006 and was conference champion before reaching sectional state semifinals... All-Essex County Defensive Team and All-Skinned Knee Squad in basketball... Newark Star-Ledger All-Conference in hoops... Dwight D. Eisenhower Leadership Award from the West Point Society of New Jersey... Wendy's High School Heisman nominee... AP Scholar and National Honor Society... National Football Foundation (Essex County) Hall of Fame.

Personal: Caleb Alexander Sith, born Jan. 19, 1989, is the son of Terry and Sharon Smith... Has worked as a guitar instructor... Saybrook College.

At Loyola High School: Lettered in football and track and captained both squads... All-league in both sports... Football team was CIF Division I Champions... Ran 100 meters in 10.86, 200 in 21.82 and 400 in 49.02... Long jump personal record was 21-feet, six inches.

Personal: Chris Stanely, born April 8, 1989, is the son of Mark and Gillian Stanley... Grandson of former Hungarian Count... Interested in economics and investment banking... Offered full athletic scholarships at UNLV and UC-Davis... Berkeley College resident... Worked as valet parking attendant at Beverly Hills Hotel.

Personal: Ryan Lee Vandersloot, born June 5, 1989, is the son of Ralph and Lucille Vandersloot... Father is a 1965 Yale graduate who played football and baseball... Brother, Derek, played football at UC Davis).

At Germantown High School: Earned three varsity letters in each of three sports... Rated No. 1 safety in Wisconsin by scout.com... Basketball captain and team MVP... All-conference hoopster whose team was 2007 regional champ... Conference champ in 100/200 shot... State champ in 200 shot... Track team won 2006 state title... WIAA Division I Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Personal: Marcus Wallace, born June 6, 1989, is the son of Mark and Julia Wallace... Brother, Jack, is current Yale football player... Father in Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame for football... Interested in business and investment banking.

At Fenwick High School: Earned five varsity letters between football and baseball... Played QB and LB and led team in tackles... All-state honorable mention and all-area senior year at LB... Team MVP, defensive MVP, all-conference and academic all-state as junior... Football team was undefeated and won league title his freshman season and conference champs his sophomore year... Chicago Catholic League runner-up three times... Pitcher and infielder for baseball team... National Honor Society.

Personal: Daniel Casey Walsh, born Jan. 3, 1989, is the son of Robert and Laura Walsh... Interested in business and law... Related to former Yale football player Robert Dooley '85.

At Westminster School: Football and baseball standout... Prepstar.com all-region in football... Named Top 50 WR in nation for Fab50recruiting.com... Team MVP and All-Colonial League senior year... Team captain and All-New England honorable mention... Led team in all receiving categories last two years... Caught 38 passes in eight games in 2006...Honorable mention all-league junior year... Three-time All-Founders League baseball player... Pitcher, infielder and outfielder... Coaches Award senior year... Hit .390 as sophomore, .500 as junior and .425 senior year... Led team in pitching wins sophomore year... Two-time team ERA leader... Honor roll student... Graduated cum laude.

Personal: Alexander Reed Young, born Aug. 14, 1988, is the son of Kimberly and Jonathan Young... Interested in political science... Intends to play baseball at Yale.